Author: paulandrescott

The Washington Post and Secure World, a very reputable cybersecurity news group, is reporting that organizations related to helping with this Pandemic have had their credentials exposed, organizations such as:

World Health Organization (WHO)

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The World Bank

U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH)

The Gates Foundation

Wuhan Institude of Virology

The estimate is around 25,000 email addresses and passwords were breached and exposed. The Post is reporting that NIH had issued a statement stating, “We are always working to ensure optimal cyber safety and security for NIH and take appropriate action to address threats or concerns. We do not comment on specific cybersecurity matters, as such information could be used to undertake malicious activities.”

The Post went on to state that the report by SITE, “said the largest group of alleged emails and passwords was from the NIH, with 9,938 found on lists posted online. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had the second-highest number, with 6,857. The World Bank had 5,120. The list of WHO addresses and passwords totaled 2,732, according to SITE’s report.”

We live in a dangerous world! We, at Ascension, have found that security and privacy are front and center in every means of this digital world. Feel Free to let us know you opinion on privacy and security.

With today’s pandemic and the economic uncertainty, companies are now looking for creative ways to move forward. Teams are considering alternatives solutions in order to maintain existing development, or contemplating new development opportunities with concern over meeting deadlines and budgets.

Ascension Development Group may have a solution for you. We have clients that use our Nearshore development teams to help them on a daily or project basis. The teams are based in Mexico. Many of the PM’s were educated in the US and many of the developers and testers as well, speak English.

What does this mean to you and your company? Here are some of the benefits to your organization:

• Acceleration of delivery time

• Meet objectives alignments between business and technology

• Expand project portfolio visibility

• Increases team productivity

• Cost reduction, realizing a 25-40% saving versus US hourly rates

• Two hour time difference in Mexico vs. 10 to 16 hours Offshore in the Far East

How can your business benefit from Nearshore development?

Please complete this form and one of our representatives will contact you within one business day.

With today’s pandemic and the economic uncertainty, companies are now looking for creative ways to move forward. Teams are considering alternatives solutions in order to maintain existing development, or contemplating new development opportunities with concern over meeting deadlines and budgets.

Ascension Development Group may have a solution for you. We have clients that use our Nearshore development teams to help them on a daily or project basis. The teams are based in Mexico. Many of the PM’s were educated in the US and many of the developers and testers as well, speak English.

What does this mean to you
and your company? Here are some of the benefits to your organization:

•
Acceleration of delivery time

•
Meet objectives alignments between business and IT

•
Expand project portfolio visibility

•
Increases team productivity

• Cost reduction, realizing a 25-40% saving versus US hourly rates

• Two hour time difference in Mexico vs. 10 to 16 hours Offshore in the Far East

If you would like more
information on our Nearshore Practice or set-up an appointment and
discuss next steps. Please contact Mel Silver @ 425.466.3459 Phone or
email me. mel@ascension-tg.com,
Website: www.ascension-tg.com

There is current legislation and standing law that will affect your firm’s ability to manage Consumer Data. Legislation is now in process that will affect Human Resource Data of your employee’s next year. Washington State has legislation almost completed today. If you wish to book a free one-on-one briefing, please select the button below and we can call you to advise you of the current issues relating to privacy and security.

Ascension partnering with Insperity, was scheduling, an Executive Briefing regarding Privacy legislation that affects your business. We wanted to invite you or members of your team. Due to the warranted restrictions in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus, we are moving the briefing to later this Spring or Summer. However, if you wish to book a free one-on-one briefing, please select the button below and we can call you to advise you of the current issues relating to privacy and security.

After the House of Representatives passed an amended Privacy Bill on the evening of March 6th, the Senate received the Bill and responded ” Senate refuses to concur in House amendments.” The Senate “Asks House to recede from amendments.”

Today, the “House insists on its position and asks Senate for a conference. Conference committee appointed. Representatives Hudgins, Hansen, Dufault.” And the “conference committee request was granted.”

Now, hopefully the committee jointly can work out the details and come to some compromise that helps both the consumer and business.

Tonight, I was watching the debate for Senate Bill SB 6281, Personal Data Privacy Law, in the Washington State House of Representative. There were many amendments to the Bill and many were not adopted to provide clarification for this upcoming law.

However, with the debate heated up and some legislators believing that the bill would fail, the bill did pass. The vote was 56 Yea and 41 Nay, 1 excused.

The next steps are for the Senate to review and vote on the changes made by the House of Representatives. Then off to the Governor if passed.

A West Palm Beach news station WPTC.com, has reported that Police in Stuart Florida, had to let six suspected drug dealers go free, based on lack of evidence. Evidence that was stored on computers at the Stuart Police Department. It has been reported that hackers, using Ransomware, have locked files which would have been positive proof to enable prosecutors to put the suspected drug dealers behind bars.

Ransomware presents a clear and present danger to most companies, governments and non-profits. Here are some of the basic suggestions to help reduce the threat of ransomware:

Patch Management of systems should always be frequent and tracked thoroughly.

Misuse or misconfiguration of remote access techniques that allow outsiders to penetrate systems and networks undetected.

Access Management issues. Users should be classified and given the least amount of privileges to allow them to effectively do their work. Most administrators are not providing a clear and effective means for granting and managing user rights.

Backup verification and validation. Making sure the backup are working correctly.

Of course, Security Awareness is the cornerstone of prevention.

Just letting you know, Ascension will be holding Privacy & Security presentations starting in April, if you wish to attend or wish to contact us regarding this new development, please email us at paul@ascension-tg.com or call at 425-750-0760.

Provides a regulatory framework for the commercial use of facial recognition services such as testing, training, and disclosure requirements.

As of today, the bill has been advanced to the House of Representatives and currently is in the Innovation, Technology & Economic Development Committee. Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Innovation, Technology & Economic Development on Feb 21 at 10:00 AM.

Ascension will be holding Privacy & Security presentations starting in April, if you wish to attend or wish to contact us regarding this new development, please email us at paul@ascension-tg.com or call at 425-750-0760.